Sesame Chicken

I found this recipe a few weeks ago and it is SO good. Seriously, it's yummy. It takes a little time to prepare, but it's not bad at all. And it's totally worth it. It's even earned itself a place on my list of weekly rotated meals, haha. It's a must try!

And for the record, I never marinate the chicken. Just an extra step I don't have time for. I tried it once, and I couldn't tell much of a difference, so feel free to omit that part of the recipe if you want. Instead of marinating, I just throw some salt and oil on the chicken. Also, I don't always have the scallions and sesame seeds so they don't get used half the time either.

Ingredients:

2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons raw sesame seeds
2 green onions (sliced)

Marinade:
1 teaspoon chicken base
¼ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon sesame oil
ground white pepper (to taste)
¼ teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon raspberry wine (or any fruity flavored wine)

Batter:
½ cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg (beaten)
½ cup water (or as much as needed to make batter smooth)
3 tablespoons cornstarch
salt (to taste)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Sauce:
5 tablespoons honey
4 tablespoons sugar
salt (to taste)
4 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoon white distilled vinegar
a sprinkle of ground black pepper

Cooking Instructions:

Step 1: Cut chicken breasts into 1” chunks and in a glass bowl combine all of the marinade ingredients and mix well. Add the chicken and coat evenly. Cover and marinade for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.

Step 2: Meanwhile, in separate bowl combine all of the batter ingredients and mix thoroughly. The batter should be thick enough to coat the chicken but thin enough to flow around the pieces. Set aside.

Step 3: Using a fork or tongs remove the pieces of chicken from the marinade and dip them into the batter to coat evenly (one by one). Deep fry the chicken in batches in your deep fryer for about 10 minutes or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. (or you can fry in hot oil at about 325 degrees in your wok for about 3-4 minutes or until golden brown)

Step 4: In your wok combine the sauce ingredients and warm over medium heat. Bring to a boil while stirring and simmer until sauce slightly thickens.

Step 5: In the wok or in a serving dish coat chicken with the sauce and garnish with sliced scallions and sesame seeds.

Karen's Alfredo

This is my mom's creation, and always a big hit. Here's her original recipe, but I only need half for my family.

1 stick butter
1 1/2 pkg. low fat cream cheese
1-2 tsp crushed garlic, to taste
up to 3 c. fat free half and half
3 oz parmesan cheese

Make it like a white sauce. Melt butter in saucepan over med/high heat. Add cream cheese, cut in small pieces a little at a time. Add garlic, heat and stir until smooth. Slowly add cream and parmesan cheese, constantly stirring. Cook about five minutes.

Even with the low fat cream cheese and fat free half and half, this is an awesome sauce. Serve over whole wheat pasta to alleviate any guilt may feel. :)

Good, healthy veggie salad

My friend had us over for dinner the other night and served this salad. I loved it! Mainly because I'm always looking for ways to get more vegetables in my diet and this salad is full of veggies!

1 bag spinach
1 large orange pepper, diced
1 medium onion, diced
1 avocado, diced
1 large tomato, diced ( I add another half to it.)
1 large cucumber, peeled and diced
1/2 bag shredded carrots
1/2 container blue cheese (optional)
lemon pepper to taste
vinegrate dressing ( I like organic raspberry vinegrate. Balsamic is good too)
I also add chicken for some protein.

Toss in a big bowl and serve.

Raw Chocolate Cream Pie

In the past few months, Paul and I have challenged each other to become "healthier" whatever that means.
In doing so, we have made changes in our kitchen. Paul has taken to the "raw" lifestyle a bit and made this pie the other night. It was quite interesting but not that bad. If you are up for a challenge and something new to try, make it.
~We had friends over for dessert last night and had them try a slice without telling them what it was made of, they liked it.

Crust
1 cup raw walnuts
1/2 cup pitted dates
1 teaspoon vanilla flavor
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt

Combine in a food processor or blender and process until mixture holds together. Press into a 9 inch pie pan.

Chocolate Cream
1 cup pitted dates, soaked in water for 15 minutes
2 ripe avocados
2 tablespoons raw carob powder*
2 tablespoons raw cacao nibs*
2 tablespoons raw agave nectar
1 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt

Drain dates but reserve the water they were soaked in. Place all ingredients in a blender adding just enough of the water to facilitate blending. Process until smooth. Pour onto the crust, top with coconut if desired and chill in the fridge for at least an hour covered with plastic wrap.
*We didn't have carob powder or cacao nibs so we used 3 tablespoons cocoa powder.

Oatmeal Raspberry Bars

So very delish....

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup seedless raspberry jam

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Grease one 8 inch square pan, and line with greased foil.
Combine brown sugar, flour, baking soda, salt, and rolled oats. Rub in the butter using your hands or a pastry blender to form a crumbly mixture. Press 2 cups of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread the jam to within 1/4 inch of the edge. Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture over the top, and lightly press it into the jam.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes in preheated oven, or until lightly browned. Allow to cool before cutting into bars.

Sweet Chicken Tacos

This is a staple in my house. My husband loves it and it is always a hit when I make it for company.

3 tbsp. Butter
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 tsp. dried mustard
1 c. Ketchup
2 tbsp. White wine Vinegar
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 c. Brown Sugar
about 2 lbs chicken breasts, cooked and shredded

Melt butter on medium low heat. Add onions and saute. Mix all ingredients (except chicken) until sugar is melted. Then add chicken and let simmer until juices are absorbed in chicken.

Serve with:

Flour Tortilla's
Shredded Lettuce
Diced Tomatoes
Shredded cheddar cheese
Sour Cream and Guacamole
Enjoy!

Cowboy Caviar aka Bean Dip

I wish I could claim this recipe as my own, we had it at a baby shower and my friend just put it on her blog. It is so GOOD!

1 can black beans
1 can black eye peas
1 can pinto beans
1 tomato chopped
1 can corn
1 can sliced olives
1 avocado chopped
1 packet of zesty Italian dressing mix, prepared

strain and rinse all beans, serve with chips.